Theirs is the busiest schedule in British theatre, producing eight full-scale productions over a five-month season, including several premieres and many critical triumphs. But you wont have found the Chichester Festival ensemble catching up on sleep between rehearsals.

Instead, theyve been ransacking the main production sets for props and costumes, swapping roles and learning yet more lines to bring us Edge 05, a unique parallel season of new plays, forgotten gems, rehearsed readings and staged concerts which all bear relation to the Festivals Con Art theme.

On September 3, man of a thousand voices Alistair McGowan will be following his recent acting appearances with his own Late Night Stand Up show, featuring a host of celebrity impersonations including David Beckham, Richard Madeley and Sven Goran Erikkson.

Elsewhere, the Gilbert and Sullivan musical Patience (Sept 4) will see ensemble actors take the directors chair, while the Festivals artistic directors Steven Pimlott and Martin Duncan strut the boards.

Other highlights include a chance to see Reunion by David Mamet, one of Americas most outspoken and controversial writers (Weds), Three Sides, a semi-staged concert of a new romantic musical (Sept 5) and A Little Touch Of Harry In The Night (Sat), an evening of Harold Pinter revue sketches in which ensemble and Chichester Youth Theatre actors join forces.

Ticket prices and venues vary, call 01243 781312